Flu-like illness is a common complaint of people with herpes, according to Dr. Lawrence Corey in "Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine." Notably absent, however, are characteristic respiratory symptoms of flu such as dry cough and runny nose. Flu-like symptoms with herpes are usually worst for the first outbreak and become progressively less severe with each recurrence.
Fever
The onset of herpes is frequently accompanied by a low-grade fever or a subjective sense of feverishness, without a measurable elevation in body temperature. According to Corey, fever may last for three to seven days and is often the first flu-like symptom to resolve. Fever that interferes with rest can be treated with over-the-counter medicines that contain acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Otherwise no treatment is required.
Pain
Like flu, an episode of herpes is often accompanied by pain symptoms such as headache, generalized muscle pain or weakness and sometimes joint pain. Pain may also be related to regional lymph node involvement. With genital herpes, look for tender pea-to-marble sized lumps near the groin. With oral herpes, swollen nodes tend to appear around the neck and the area where the jaw meets the ears. A 2008 report in the "Archives of Internal Medicine" notes that pain symptoms often persist for 10 to 14 days, subsiding only when skin lesions of herpes start to heal.
Poor Appetite
According to a 2005 report in the "American Family Physician," poor appetite is another common complaint, especially during the early days of the outbreak. Poor appetite can reflect the response of the immune system to the infection or, in the case of oral herpes, more local symptoms. Swollen lymph nodes can complicate jaw movements required for swallowing while the first outbreak of oral herpes is frequently accompanied by lesions inside the mouth that cause excruciating sore throat.
References
- Herpes Simplex Viruses: L. Corey; In: "Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, 17th edition;" A.S. Fauci, E. Braunwald, D.L. Kasper, S.L. Hauser, D.L. Longer, J.L. Jameson and J. Loscalzo (Eds.); 2008
- Archives of Internal Medicine: The Treatment of Herpes Simples: An Evidence-Based Review; C. Cernik, K. Gallina, and R.T. Brodell; June 2008
- American Family Physician: Genital Herpes: A Review; J.G. Beauman; 2005
